Combination fire and domestic water system



Dec. 12, 1967 R. F. SCHAUB 3,357,359

COMBINATION FIRE AND DOMESTIC WATER SYSTEM Filed July 19, 1965 REG. l

INVENTOQ QOBEQT F. SCHAUB United States Patent 3,357,359 COMBINATION FIRE AND DOMESTIC WATER SYSTEM Robert F. Schaub, La Grange, lll., assignor to Syncroflo, Inc., Downers Grove, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Filed July 19, 1965, Ser. No. 473,036 7 Claims. (Cl. 103-11) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A tankless pumping system for supplying water under both normal operating conditions and under emergency operating conditions. The system includes a water inlet line and a Water outlet line. First, second, and third pumps are connected in parallel between the inlet line and the Water outlet line. The first and second pumps provide for delivery of water to the outlet during normal conditions, and the third pump delivers water to the outlet line under emergency conditions. A flow sensing device senses when water passes through the first and second pumps and .determines the existence of emergency flow conditions in the outlet line. A device is responsive to the flow sensing device for operating the third pump to provide sufficient water to meet the emergency flow conditions.

This invention relates to a novel tankless pumping system useful for both domestic and emergency use.

system described in said application is highly satisfactory and reliable in use, one disadvantage of the system is that two substantially separate plumbing systems are required for fire control use and for domestic use.

The requirement of two completely separate plumbing systems is disadvantageous primarily because the overall cost of the system is significantly increased by the requirement of having two separate plumbing arrangements which actually carry water to the same general area. For example, in a multi-story building, separate piping is normally used for both the fire system and for the domestic system although the water is carried to the same floors; the economic disadvantage of such an arrangement is obvious. Furthermore, the use of two separate plumbing or piping systems has a further significant disadvantage since the water in the fire system becomes stagnant after a period of time and if there is any backflow of the stale water through a faulty check valve, for example, the stagnant or stale water mixes with the fresh water in the do mestic system thereby causing fouling thereof, which adversely affects the taste of the drinking water.

It is therefore an important object of the invention to provide an improved combination domestic and emergency pumping system wherein substantially the same plumbing is utilized for both domestic use and for emergency use.

It is also an object of this invention to provide an improved tankless pumping system for both domestic and emergency use, including fire control use, wherein the problem of water stagnation in a fire water line is overcome by using the same line for both fire use and for domestic use.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved combined domestic and emergency'water pumping system wherein a multiplicity of various size pumps are connected between a water inlet source and a pressurized water outlet which is used for ordinary domestic purposes and for emergency and/or fire control use.

It is another object of this invention to provide a tankless pumping system useful for both ordinary domestic use and for emergency use wherein the plumbing arrangement is characterized by its simplicity and economy of construction and manufacture.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide an improved tankless pumping system for domestic and emergency or fire control use wherein a single large pump is utilized only for emergency conditions, that is, when another pump in the system fails or when there is a high water flow rate required for a fire.

Further purposes and objects of this invention will appear as the specification proceeds.

The accompanying schematic diagram illustrates a particular embodiment of my novel tankless pumping system used for both domestic use and for emergency and fire control use.

Referring to the drawings, the pumping system shown takes water from an inlet conduit 10 which may be the main of a city water system or which may lead to a tank or well which may or may not use a separate pump. The water which passes from the water supply 10 is pumped to an increased pressure into a water supply conduit 12. The single water supply conduit 12 is useful for both emergency use and for ordinary domestic conditions and the means used so that only a single conduit is required will be described hereinafter in detail.

In the particular pumping system illustrated, three pumps are shown, although more or less pumps may be used, as desired. Pumps 14, 16 and 18 are connected in parallel between the water inlet conduit 10 and the pressurized water supply conduit 12. Each of the pumps 14, 16 and 18 is sized in accordance with the needs of the particular system.

The first pump 14 at the beginning of the conduit 12 is a low capacity pump and is used the vast majority of the time during which the system is in use. The second or intermediate pump 16 is desirably larger and, for example, may be approximately twice as great in capacity as the first pump 14 and has a capacity suflicient to meet all demands of domestic use even at relatively high flow requirements. In one particular embodiment, the first or lead pump 14 is rated at gallons per minute while the second or intermediate pump 16 is rated at gallons per minute.

Each of the pumps 14, 16 and 18 is connected in parallel between the conduits 10 and 12 in the conduits 20, 22 and 24, respectively. Desirably, pressure regulators or constant pressure regulating valves 32, 34 and 36 are connected in the conduits 20, 22 and 24 intermediate the respective pumps and their conduit connections to the main water conduit 12. Also, hand valves 26, 28 and 30 are desirably provided in the conduits 20, 22 and 24 intermediate the pressure regulators 32, 34 and 36 and the conduit connections to the water supply line 12. The pumps 14, 16 and 18 are each operated by electric motors 38, 40 and 42, respectively. One side of each motor is grounded while the other side of each is electrically connected to a flow regulator switch arrangement 44. The flow regulator switch arrangement 44 is grounded on one side andon another side receives electrical power from an electrical source or control board 46. The flow regulator switch mechanism 44 is connected through a pair of conduits 48 to the opposite sides of a flow orifice or restriction 50 located in the water supply conduit 12.

In my pumping system, the third pump 18 is a high capacity pump and is designed to operate only under emergency conditions, that is, when one of the pumps 14 'and/ or 16 fails or when there is high flow requirement, such as would occur when water is required for controlling a fire. As an example, when the lead pump 14 is rated at 55 gallons per minute and when the intermediate pump 16 is rated at 105 gallons per minute, the emergency pump 18 in my system is rated at 350 gallons per minute, which is more than twice the capacity of the first two pumps combined. Because of the exceedingly high flow rate of the third pump, discharge from or intake of the third pump should not pass through the orifice 50 because of the excessive pressure drop which would occur across the orifice. Therefore, it is an important feature of my system to connect the large emergency pump 18 to the water supply conduit 12 and to the inlet conduit in such a way that the pump 18 does not discharge across or intake from the plate, while at the same time only the smaller pumps discharge across or intake from the orifice plate 50.

The flow regulating switch mechanism 44 is responsive to flow through the water supply conduit 12 from the two lead pumps only, through the conduits 48 which are connected to opposite sides of the orifice plate 50. Thus, when the flow rate through the water supply conduit 12 is below a first predetermined value, the flow rate through the orifice 50 is sensed by the flow mechanism 44 through the conduit 48. The switches of the flow mechanism 44 permit the electrical power to pass only through the electrical connection 52 to the lead pump motor 38 for operating the pump 14. When the flow exceeds the first predetermined value, the flow regulator switch mechanism 44, by sensing the flow through the conduit 12, cuts off electricity to the electrical line 52 and thereby motor 38 and provides electrical power only for electrical line 54 so as to operate the second pump motor 40 for the intermediate flow pump 16. Pump 16 continues to operate alone until the flow drops below the first predetermined flow rate or increases above a second predetermined flow rate, which would be required, for example, for an excessively high domestic system demand. When the flow past the orifice 50 exceeds the second predetermined value, the switch mechanism 44 provides power for the electrical motor connections 52 and 54 so that both motors 38 and 40 operate the pumps 14 and 16. When the flow through the orifice plate 50 finally exceeds a third predetermined value,-which would be required, for example, for fire control, the flow regulator switch mechanism 44 provides power for all electrical motor connections 52, 54 and 56 so that all three pump motors 38, 40 and 42 operate the pumps 14, 16

and 18 to provide the necessary water flow. Thus, even at high flow rates, the required flow and pressure are maintained in the conduit 12 for domestic use as well as for emergency use. Once the high capacity pump starts, it is locked in and must be manually reset.

In my system, it is preferred that a pressure switch 58 be connected in the conduit 12, as upstream of the connection of the discharge side of the pump 18 to the line 12. The particular location of the pressure switch 58 is not greatly important as long as it is responsive, without significant delay, to the pressure in the conduit 12. The purpose of the pressure switch 58 is to activate the emergency pump 18 in the event that the pressure drops below a predetermined value. This may occur, for example, when the flow past the orifice 50 does not exceed the first orsecond predetermined values, but the pressure in the conduit 12 may drop to an undesirably low level due to failure of the first and/or second pump. When the pressure in the conduit 12 drops below the predetermined value, the pressure switch 58 closes a switch 60 which permits electrical power to pass through the control panel 46, through the switch connection 62, through the switch 60, and through the motor connection 64 to the pump 7 motor 42 so as to operate the emergency pump 16.

In my improved pumping system, the lower capacity pumps 14 and 16 together with the emergency pump 18 provide a high flow rate for fire service. The emergency pump 18 actually has a dual purpose since it acts as a standby for the domestic system in the event that one of the other pumps fails. In the case of pump failure, only the emergency pump 18 operates in response to the pressure switch 58 detecting low pressure in the system.

It is preferred that a pressure regulator valve 36 be utilized on the discharge side of the pump 18 so as to avoid excessive pressure in the conduit 12 when the required emergency fiow rate is below the total capacity of the three pumps which operate at the same time for fire control use.

It is seen that our single loop tankless pumping system has significant advantages since it is highly economical be cause of the single water supply conduit 12 being used for both domestic and emergency or fire control use, whereas in previous systems, two separate piping systems were required. Also, there is no problem of water stagnation in my system since the water supply conduit 12 is used at all times and fresh water is always being pumped through the conduit.

While in the foregoing, there has been provided a detailed description of a particular embodiment of the pres ent invention, it is to be understood that all equivalents obvious to those having skill in the art are to be included within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A tankless pumping system for supplying water under both normal and emergency conditions, said system comprising a water inlet conduit, a water supply conduit, first pump means and second pump means connected in parallel between said water inlet conduit and said water supply conduit, said first pump means providing pressurized water to said water supply conduit under normal conditions while said second pump means provides water to said water supply conduit only under emergency conditions, a flow indicator including an orifice in said water supply line and being positioned intermediate the connections of said first and second pump means to said water supply conduit, means responsive to said flow indicator when said indicator determines the existence of emergency flow conditions so as to operate said second pump means and provide sufiicient fluid to said water supply conduit, means for sensing the existence of emergency pressure conditions in said fluid supply line, and means responsive to said sensing means for operating said second pump means when said sensing means indicates the existence of emergency pressure conditions in said water supply conduit.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein a pressure regulator is connected between said second pump means and said water supply conduit.

3. A tankless pumping system for supplying fluid under normal conditions and under emergency conditions, said systemcomprising a water inlet conduit, a water supply conduit, first, second, and third pumps connected in parallel between said conduits, said first pump operating when the flow of water in said water supply conduit is below a first predetermined value, said second pump operating when the flow in said water supply conduit is above said first predetermined value and below a second predetermined value, and said third pump operating only when said flow is above said second predetermined value indicating the existence of emergency flow conditions, a flow orifice plate in said water supply conduit and being connected in said water supply conduit downstream of the connection of said third pump to said water supply conduit and upstream of said second pump so that only water from said first and second pumps passes through said orifice plate, means associated with said orifice plate for determining the flow in said water supply conduit, and means responsive to said determining means for stopping said first pump and starting said second pump when the flow is above said. first predetermined value and for operating all three pumps when the flow is above said second predetermined value so that sufiicient water is provided to said water supply conduit to meet emergency flow conditions.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein a pressure switch is connected in said water supply conduit for determining the existence of emergency pressure conditions in said conduit, and means responsive to said pressure switch for operating said third pump so as to provide sufficient water to meet emergency pressure conditions in said water supply conduit.

5. The system of claim 3 wherein a pressure regulator valve is connected between said third pump and said water supply conduit.

6. A tankless pumping system for supplying water under both normal conditions and emergency conditions, said system comprising a water inlet conduit, a system pressurized supply conduit, first, second and third pumps connected in parallel between said conduit, said first and second pumps providing for the delivery of water to said system during normal flow conditions, said third pump providing for the delivery of water to said system supply conduit only under emergency conditions, flow sensing means located in one of conduits so that only water passing through said first and second pumps passes therethrough, said flow sensing means determining the existence of emergency flow conditions in said supply conduit, and means responsive to said sensing means for operating said third pump so as to provide sufiicient water to meet the emergency flow conditions.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein pressure switch means are in said water supply conduit for sensing the existence of emergency pressure conditions, and means are provided for operating said third pump in response to an indication from said pressure sensing means that emergency conditions exist in said pressurized supply conduit.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,741,986 4/1956 Smith 10311 2,888,875 6/1959 Buck 103-11 3,135,282 6/1964 Gray 103-11 FOREIGN PATENTS 277,549 9/1927 Great Britain.

OTHER REFERENCES Power (Nov. 25, 1930 issue), page 6 of Buying Section.

DONLEY I. STOCKING, Primary Examiner.

WILLIAM L. FREEH, Examiner. 

1. A TANKLESS PUMPING SYSTEM FOR SUPPLYING WATER UNDER BOTH NORMAL AND EMERGENCY CONDITIONS, SAID SYSTEM COMPRISING A WATER INLET CONDUIT, A WATER SUPPLY CONDUIT, FIRST PUMP MEANS AND SECOND PUMP MEANS CONNECTED IN PARALLEL BETWEEN SAID WATER INLET CONDUIT AND SAID WATER SUPPLY CONDUIT, SAID FIRST PUMP MEANS PROVIDING PRESSURIZED WATER TO SAID WATER SUPPLY CONDUIT UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS WHILE SAID SECOND PUMP MEANS PROVIDES WATER TO SAID WATER SUPPLY CONDUIT ONLY UNDER EMERGENCY CONDITIONS, A FLOW INDICATOR INCLUDING AN ORIFICE IN SAID WATER SUPPLY LINE AND BEING POSITIONED INTERMEDIATE THE CONNECTIONS OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND PUMP MEANS TO SAID 